Monday, February 22, 2010

What have you been up to the past week? Visiting, eating, and overcome by the heat wave!

Funny, the people you visit during the new year are mostly relatives whom you don't visit for the rest of the year!! And once a year, you ask the same questions you did the previous year. Likewise they ask you the same questions too. Then you "exchange" ang pows. Then you say good-bye, see you next year!! Hahahaha!!!

I am spared from this yearly rituals. Although I went visiting two places once a year. That's not too bad. Some of you would have added the total to double digits. And out-station too.

After that you have a good sleep, and then you visit the real friends and the genuine caring relatives. Maybe your busy schedule was not like that. Well and good. Different people have different ways of celebrating the Chinese New Year.

For me it was as usual a very quiet affair. But you can't simply avoid being tired out. Yes, the spring cleaning. And we don't have a maid to help out. It is still new year though. And Chap Goh Meh is next Sunday. Being in Penang, you got the opportunities to be with the crowd, celebrating the events. For me, I live a quiet lifestyle hidden away in one quiet corner in the mainland, watching birds visiting my garden with their melodious whistling. The tinggling of my wind chimes add to the stereo effect.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Uganda's parliament is set to pass a law that punishes gay people with prison or death -- but a massive global outcry to stop this brutal bill is rising fast:

Uganda’s parliament is preparing to pass a brutal new law that would punish gay people with prison -- even death.

Initial international criticism drove the President to call for a review. But after a well-funded and vicious lobbying effort by extremists, the bill looks set to be passed -- threatening widespread persecution and bloodshed.

Opposition to the bill is rising, including from the Anglican church. Ugandan gay rights advocate Frank Mugisha writes, This law will put us in serious danger. Please, sign the petition and tell others to stand with us – if there’s a huge global response, our government will see that Uganda will be internationally isolated by the proposed law, and strike it down.

With the decision expected in days, only an irresistible wave of worldwide pressure will be enough to save Frank's life and many others. The global petition to stop the gay death law has passed 300,000 signatures in a few days and rising fast.

The petition will be delivered to President Museveni and the parliament at the end of this week by top Ugandan civil society and Church leaders. Museveni has already opposed a march by anti-gay extremists this week, showing that our pressure is working!

The bill proposes life imprisonment for anyone convicted of having same-sex relations and imposes the death penalty for “serial offenders”. NGOs working to prevent the spread of HIV could be imprisoned for up to 7 years for “promoting homosexuality”. Even members of the public face up to three years in jail if they fail to report homosexual activity to the police within 24 hours!

The bill’s advocates claim that it defends national culture, but its strongest critics come from within Uganda. The Reverend Canon Gideon Byamugisha is one of many who’s written to us – he says,

It is violating our cultures, traditions and religious values that teach against intolerance, injustice, hatred and violence. We need laws to protect people -- not ones that will humiliate, ridicule, persecute and kill them en masse.

By rejecting this dangerous bill and supporting the breadth of opposition to it, we can help set a crucial precedent. Let’s build massive support for Uganda’s human rights defenders, and save lives by stopping this bill.

Human Rights Impact Assessment of Uganda's Anti-homosexuality Bill By Sylvia Tamale, The Dean of Law at Uganda's Makerere University:http://www.zeleza.com/blogging/african-affairs/human-rights-impact-assessment-ugandas-anti-homosexuality-bill-sylvia-tamal

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I've just signed a petition calling on the Ugandan government to withdraw a proposed anti-gay law that would punish gay people with prison -- or even death. I thought that you would want to join me. Hundreds of thousands have signed and pressure is mounting, but there are only a few days left. Please sign the petition here:

Thursday, February 11, 2010

“I imagine that there would be a mass exodus and I think it is already happening for obvious reasons because the problem is very glaring. The dissatisfaction cannot be hidden anymore,” Muhyiddin told reporters at the Felda headquarters here.

Usually I never agree with BN (UMNO) politicians. But this time I have to agree whole-heartedly, and heartilly. Yes, for "obvious reasons". Cannot get "jalan" so "gostan-lah." Please leave fast. That will be doing Saudara Anwar a very big favour!

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Quiet some time ago I posted an article called "Dance of the thousand arms". The accompanying Youtube presentation has been taken off. I think most probably it was because of the accompanying music which replaced the original score. On hindsight, I think it is rather rude and insulting to replace the original music score. The person who removed the Youtube presentation did the right thing.

So here it is. The original "Thousand-hand Quanyin Dance" with the original music score. This spectacular dance presentation was actually one of the items of the musical and dance extravaganza called "My Dream" produced by the China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe which toured and impressed the world from the year 2000 onwards.

The petite and pretty dancer infront is Tai Lihua. She lost her hearing at the age of two. She has been dancing with the troupe since she was 15. For the past 16 years, she has performed in more than 40 countries."The Dance Of The Thousand-hand Quanyin"

Monday, February 8, 2010

Lately we have been hearing criticisms of LGE. That's good positive news! If there is no criticisms, then Penang is trouble again.

For those within DAP who are complaining, why not you take over LGE's job and see whether you are better than him? For those PKR opportunists who are formerly from UMNO, I like to quote LGE's favourite statement, something like "better get used to it." Those former UMNO warlords turned PKR opportunists; if you can't get used to it, go back to UMNO. Good riddance. What about PAS trouble makers? Say what you like.

One message is very clear. Lim Guan Eng is THE CM of Penang, not a lackey of UMNO.

Friday, February 5, 2010

"An effigy of Penang Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng was set alight today by a group of protestors from two Malay NGOs, during a demonstration against what the group claims were discriminatory practices by the local administration."

This is childish behaviour of the lowest degree. It reflects on the mentality of these people. There is an absence of social courtesy. I wonder why many "actions" were done after Friday prayers? Where is the common decency of a cultured society. What happen to good manners and decorum?

Look at those hooligans in British football games. Then look at the cultured English gentlemen.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

"So do me." Do you understand this phrase? You are most probably wrong. You see, language has its peculiarity and absurdity. English language is no exception. How do you pronounce "tyre"? What about "the tyre"? It should be pronounced "teh tarikh". Have one on me.

"So do me" are the mucical notes, silly. Just like "do re mi".

Or is it little children's complaining to the teacher, "So do me!" In this case, "So" is another child's name, and he disturbed his friend; so his friend complained, "Teacher, So do me!"

"So do me" can also be the latest instant mee, cashing in on Anwar's predicament.

"So do me" can be bad English for "So do I."

What if we join the words together...."Sodome"?

This is serious. In certain "puritanical culture" you cannot do what you want even in the privacy of your own house, or bedroom to be precise. These people claim their God-given right that others can do it only the one way. Who knows whether these God-forsaken people follow what they "preached" or "demanded". What the heck. Who cares what Anawara did in his privacy. Of course nobody cares, but some parties just have to "strangle" this Anawara, to get him out of the way from top governance. What a better strategy than to use the "proven method" of the Old Fox with Big Tail. "Big" in Pali is "Maha". So Big Tail can be pronounced as Maha Tail!